Core Media Group, the NYC-headquartered conglom that owns the Idol and So You Think You Can Dance franchises, is launching a London outpost, to be headed by former ITV exec Simon Shaps (pictured).

Core Media Group, the NYC-headquartered conglom that owns the Idol and So You Think You Can Dance franchises, is launching a London outpost, to be headed by former ITV exec Simon Shaps (pictured).

Announcing the news at the 2013 Realscreen Summit, which Shaps is attending in DC, Core Media said that the former ITV director of television would be charged with forming his own London-based in-house team, to create formats “to be sold across the global marketplace, like the UK, and be brought back to the U.S.”

In his new role as MD of international content and production, Shaps will report to Core Media Group president Marc Graboff and work closely with Jennifer O’Connell, the head of Core’s U.S. television division.

It is unclear at present whether Shaps will continue in his multiple other roles, which include serving as chairman of UK indies Back2Back Productions, A Brand Apart Television and MercuryMedia International, as well as the UK’s National Film and Television School.

(Update January 30: MercuryMedia CEO Tim Sparke confirms to realscreen that Shaps will continue to serve as chairman of Mercury)

In a statement, Graboff said: “Core is committed to bringing its unique approach for creating and developing our own shows to the international market and we could not ask for a better partner than Simon Shaps, a true visionary who has one of the best track records in the industry.”

Shaps added: “I was hugely impressed by the caliber of the team at Core Media Group, under Marc’s leadership. They have already expanded the business in the US, and I am delighted to work with them to grow Core’s assets internationally.”

The news comes after Core, which was formerly known as CKX Inc, recently expanded its team with the hiring of Glenn Stickley as senior VP of TV production, and Jenny Ramirez as VP of development and production. Stickley comes to Core having worked on such hits as The Amazing Race and The Biggest Loser, while Ramirez was previously a director of development at FremantleMedia.

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About The Author

Daniele Alcinii is a news reporter at realscreen, the leading international publisher of non-fiction film and television industry news and content. He joins the rs team with journalism experience following a stint out west with Sun Media in Edmonton's Capital Region, and communications work in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto. You can follow him on Twitter at @danielealcinii.